Energy management system

Abstract

An energy distribution system includes at least one electric energy load and at least one thermal energy load. A grid of the system selectively supplies electric energy in accordance with a grid tariff profile. The energy distribution system further includes electric and thermal energy sources along with an energy management system that includes a computer processor and a computer readable storage media configured to forecast thermal and electrical energy loads, forecast electric energy generation capability of the electric energy source, forecast thermal energy generation capability of the thermal energy source, and perform an analysis based on energy availability and cost to meet the thermal and electrical energy load forecasts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy distribution system comprising:
 at least one electric energy load;   at least one thermal energy load;   a grid for selectively supplying electric energy associated with a grid tariff profile;   an electric energy source;   a thermal energy source; and   an energy management system including a computer processor and a computer readable storage media, the energy management system configured to forecast thermal and electrical energy loads, forecast electric energy generation capability of the electric energy source, forecast thermal energy generation capability of the thermal energy source, and perform an analysis based on energy availability and cost to meet the thermal and electrical energy load forecasts.   
     
     
         2 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electric energy source comprises a renewable electric energy source. 
     
     
         3 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy source comprises a boiler. 
     
     
         4 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the electric energy source comprises an electric energy storage unit. 
     
     
         5 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the renewable electric energy source comprises wind power and the electric energy storage unit comprises a battery. 
     
     
         6 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the renewable electric energy source is configured to generate electric energy selectively routed to the at least one electric energy load and the electric energy storage unit as dictated by the energy management system. 
     
     
         7 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a combustion engine; and 
 a generator coupled to the combustion engine for selectively generating an electric energy supply. 
 
     
     
         8 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 7  further comprising:
 a heat exchanger operatively associated with the combustion engine for selectively generating thermal energy. 
 
     
     
         9 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the thermal energy is selectively routed to the at least one thermal energy load. 
     
     
         10 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one thermal energy load is configured to receive thermal energy from the heat exchanger and the thermal energy source as dictated by the energy management system. 
     
     
         11 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the thermal energy source comprises a boiler. 
     
     
         12 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the thermal energy source comprises a renewable thermal energy source. 
     
     
         13 . The energy distribution system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first sub-tiered energy distribution system associated with a first district and including the at least one electric energy load, the at least one thermal energy load, the grid for selectively supplying electric energy associated with a grid tariff profile, the electric energy source, the thermal energy source, and the energy management system; 
 a second sub-tiered energy distribution system associated with a second district and including a second at least one electric energy load, a second at least one thermal energy load, a second grid for selectively supplying electric energy associated with a second grid tariff profile, a second electric energy source, a second thermal energy source, and a second energy management system; and 
 a multi-district integration module configured to control the transfer of energy between the first and second districts based on availability and cost. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating an energy management system comprising:
 generating an electric and thermal load forecast;   establishing an electric and thermal energy generation forecast based on at least one electric and thermal energy source;   noting an energy storage unit initial state;   noting a grid tariff profile based on a public utility grid;   utilizing the electric and thermal load forecasts, the electric and thermal energy generation forecast, the energy storage unit initial state, and the grid tariff profile to determine micro-grid and heating system set-points by an optimization module to minimize energy cost; and   applying set-points to at least one of the at least one electric energy source and the at least one thermal energy source.   
     
     
         15 . The method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one electric energy source comprises a renewable electric energy source. 
     
     
         16 . The method set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one electric energy source comprises a generator coupled to a combustion engine. 
     
     
         17 . The method set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one thermal energy source comprises a boiler. 
     
     
         18 . The method set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the energy storage unit comprises an electric energy storage unit.